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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. stem — to come from
  3. cap — of ice
  4. current — electric
  5. track — a path
  6. current — of water
  7. charge — electricity
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. track — to keep track
  10. charge — in control
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — all right
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. lie — to recline
  15. track — a song
  16. current — happening now
  17. firm — a company
  18. cap — a hat
  19. charge — a price
  20. cap — a lid
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. firm — decided

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com